Metal-printing machine



Feb. 19, 1929. 1,702,769

J. F. GAIL METAL PRINTING MACHINE 6 Filed July 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 z viwm L Feb. 19, 1929. 1,702,769

J. F. GAIL METAL PRINTING MACHINE Filed July 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 19, 1929. N 1,702,769

J. F. GAIL METAL PRINTING MACHINE FiledJ 4Sheets-Shee't 3 DQ172757?! A75 /7 \JO/UZJY Ga/dl/ y uk @2314, 52 5 Feb. 19, 1929.

1,702,769 J. F. GAIL METAL PRINTING MACHINE Filed July 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 JJ "1706., mjzmws.

Patented Feb. 19, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Jean 1''. GAIL, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'ro sIMMoNs COMPANY, or New I YORK, N. Y., A oonPonATroN or DELAWARE.

METAL-remains AcHr E.

Application filed July 6,

plying to metal surfaces a coating of suitably colored ink or paint in imitation of wood surface, so as to produce a woodjgrain 5 appearance or effect. This practice is at present extensively followed in the manufacture of metal bedsteads and other articles of bedroom furniture. The machine of the present invention employs a pair of pattern rollers, the peripheral surfaces of which are engraved by an etching process to carry, in intaglio, the design to be printed, and these engraved surfaces. coated with ink, are impressed in rolling contact into the soft peripheries of a,pair of gelatine covered printing'rollers, to which latter the ink, retaining the design on the patternrollers, is-bodily transferred; and the bar, rod or sheet of metal to be decorated is then run between the said printing rollers, by which latter the ink, in the same design, is transferred to theopposite surfaces of said bar, rod or sheet. I

In such a machine the roller surfaces from 5 and to which the ink is "transferred .must operate in absolute rolling contact with each other, since the slightest amount of sliding contact will smear the ink and wreck the design. Furthermore,-to effect the transfer of the ink from the pattern roller to the printing roller, the peripheries of the two rollers must operate not in line contact with.

each other, but the periphery of the pattern roller must operate in depressing surface contact with the soft periphery of the printing roller through an appreciable are. I.

their absolute peripheries, but the speed of the printing roller must, be slightly retarded relatively to the speed it "woud have if'the rollers operated in line contact, in order to insure perfect rolling contact and freedom from smear. One object of the present invention is to produce a machine of the character and type specified wherein this 1926. Serial No. 120,560.

ing roller for more than a short period of time it produces a permanent depression or dent in the periphery of the latter roller; and hence, when the operation of the ma;- chine is-intermitted, the two rollers should be separated at least to the extent of relieving the'printing roller from the depressing contact of the pattern roller and allowing its depressed portion to re-expand to the line of its absolute periphery. Another object of the instant-invention is to provide improved means for effecting this separation of the rollers when the machine is idle. Preferably, and in the form of the invention herein presented, this roller separating means is connected to acontrol member of the power that operates the machine, as, for example, to the starting and stopping switch of an electric motor, so that when the power is thrown off, the separation of the rollers occurs simultaneously therewith.

Again, both the pattern rollers andthe printing rollers are equipped with suitable wipers to remove surplus ink therefrom; and when the machine is idle it is desirable that these wipers also be moved out of contact with the rollers to avoid the deposit of dried ink marks or lines thereon by the contacting portions of the wipers which might mar the subsequent work of the machine. A further object of the invention, therefore, is to provide, in a machine of the character specified,

improved roller wipers, with means for rctracting the same from the surfaces ofthe rollers when the machine is stopped; said retracting means being preferably connected and coordinated with the roller separating means so as to operate simultaneously with thelatter.

.Other objects and attendant advantages of the invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description. taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein I have illustrated one practical embodiment of the invention, and in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, viewed from the right of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of part of the scraper actuating mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation of the motor kswitch-box and switch-actuating arm and lin Fig. 6 is a top view as seen on the line 66 of Fig. 1;

.Fig. 7 is an enlarged section through the printing rolls and their bearings on the line 77' of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional detail through the meeting portions of the peripheries of the pattern and printing rollers, taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a base on which are mounted a pair of spaced vertical front and rear frame members 11 and 12 respectively. 13 designates a drive shaft journaled horizontally in bearings in the frame members 11, 12, and having mounted on one end thereof which projects forwardly of the frame 11 a gelatine-covered printing roller 14. J ournaled in hearings in the frame members 11 and 12 above and parallel with the drive shaft 13 is a shaft 15 carrying on its overhanging end a similar printing roller 16. Fast on the drive shaft 13 is a spur gear 17 (Fig. 3) driving a spur gear 18 of equal diameter and number of teeth fast on the shaft 15, whereby the two printing rollers 14 and 16 are rotated in opposite directions at equal speeds.

19 and 20 designate a pair of fixed pivot.

shafts mounted in and between the frame members 11 and 12. Pivoted on the shaft 19 is a yoke 21, most clearly shown in Fig. 6; and journaled in hearings in the opposite sides of the yoke 21 is a shaft 22, fast on one overhanging end of which is a pattern roller 24. The periphery of this roller, as shown in the detail view Fig. 8, is equipped with a thin band 25 of copper or other suitable metal, in the surface of which is engraved by etching or otherwise a wood grain pattern. The pe riphery of this pattern roller is in rolling engagement with the periphery of the printing roller 16, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

Pivoted on the shaft 20 is a similar yoke 26, in the opposite arms of which is journaled a shaft 27 carrying on its overhanging end a pattern roller 28 similar to the pattern roller 24, having its periphery normally in rolling contact with the periphery of the printing roller 14, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

Fast on shaft 22 is a gear 29 meshing with and driven by a gear 30 fast on the shaft 15; and fast on the shaft 27 is a gear 31 meshing with and driven by a gear 32 fast on the drive shaft 13. The gears 29 and 31 are of equal diameters and equal numbers of teeth, and

and said shaft is rotated by a gear 39 fast thereon meshing with and driven by the gear 29. Inking roller 36 is fast on a shaft 40 journaled in arms 41 on the yoke 26 slightly above the pivot of the latter,'said shaft being driven by a gear 42 fast thereon meshing with and driven bythe gear 31.

lVhen the machine is operating the yokes 21 and 26 are respectively swung downwardly and upwardly a slight distance which i forces the peripheries of the pattern rollers 24, 28 into the soft peripheries of the printing rollers 16 and 14. When, however, the operation of the machine is intermitted, it is es-.

sential to relieve the pressure of the pattern rollers on the printing rollers and this is done by bodily shifting the pattern rollers away from the printing rollers sufficiently to permit the impressed or indented portions of the printing rollers to re-expand into the normal peripheral surfaces thereof. In Fig. 3 is illustrated 'a simple pedal-actuated mechanism for doing this. Referring thereto, 43 is a rock shaft mounted in and between the frame members 11 and 12. Fast on this rock shaft is a rocking beam 44, to one arm of which is pivoted a long upwardly extending link 45, the upperend of which is pivoted to one arm 46 of a lever that is pivoted at 47 in a bracket 48, see Fig. 6, attached to the upper end of the frame-member 11. The other arm 49 of said lever is connected by a short link 50 to the transverse limb of the yoke 21. From this it will be seen that the rocking of the shaft 43 in a direction to draw the link 45 downwardly will effect a slight liftingxmbvement of the yoke 21 just suflicient to remove the pattern roller 24 from depressing engagement with the printing roller 16. This movement is so slight, however, that it does not separate the gears 29 and 30.

To the other arm of the rocking. beam 44 is pivotally connected an upwardly extending. link 51 pivotally connected at its upper end to the long arm 52 of a lever that is pivoted at 53 to a bracket 54 (Fig. 2) attached to the frame member 11, the short arm 55 of said lever being connected bya short link 56 to the transverse member of the yoke 26; from whichit will be seen that when the rock shaft 43 is turned in a direction to draw down the link 45 and simultaneously raise the link 51, the yoke 26 will be swung downwardly sufiiciently to withdraw the periphery of the pattern roll 28 'from depressing con tact with its co-operating printing roll 14, this occurring without separating the transmission gears 31 and 32.

Fig. 7 illustrates the preferred construction and mounting of the printing rollers 14 and 16. As herein shown each roller comprises an axially bored spool 57 mounted fast on its operating shaft by an expansion bolt 58 cooperating with wedge blocks 59 which are expanded by the head of the wedge bolt into clutch engagement with the bores of the spoolsfand a thick peripheral ring 60 of a gelatine composition that is soft and slightly resilient. In order to permit a limited variation in the spacing of the printing rolls, the shaft of one of them (shaft 15 as herein shown) is journaled in eccentric bearings 61, these latter being rotatably mounted in bearing bosses 62 on the upright frame members 11and 12; These bearings are connected for simultaneous rocking movement by a U- shaped bail 63, the horizontal limb of which may be swungupwardly or downwardly to effect the desired spacing of the printing rollers. 64 designates each of a pair of angle brackets attached to the frame member 11,

' between which is j ournaled a horizontal guide teeth of the gears 18 and 30 on the shaft 15 and gage roller 65 adapted to bear against the rear side or edge of the work as the latter is passed between the printing rollers. The

are made long enough to remain in mesh with the teeth of their co-operating gears under the described adjustments of the shaft 15.

J ournaled in the frame plate 11 between the printing roller 16 and the inking roller 35 are a pair of wiper shafts 66, 67 Secured on an overhanging end of shaft 66 is a wiper in the form of a scraper blade 68 that co-operates with the periphery of the pattern roller 24, and fixed on the corresponding overhanging end of shaft 67 is a scraper blade 69 that co-operates with the periphery of theprinting roller 16. Also journaled in the frame plate 11 at suitable points are similar wiper shafts 70 and 71. On an overhanging end of shaft 70 is a scraper blade 72 co-operating with the periphery of the pattern roller 28, and on the corresponding overhanging end of the shaft 71 is a scraper blade 73 co-operating with the periphery of the printing roller 14. The working edges of all of the scraper blades are lightly held in trailing contact with their respective rollers by spring-actuated mechanism, as follows.

Referring to Fig. 3, fast on shaft 67 is a depending arm 74 to which is connected a pull spring 75 that is anchored at 76 to the frame '11. Fast on the shaft 66 and loose on shaft 67 outside the frame member 11 are a pair of collars 77 and 78 respectively (Fig. 4) connected for simultaneous rocking movement in opposite directions by a knuckle joint 79. The collar 78 is angularly adjustable on shaft 67 by a lateral lug 80 thereon lying between a pair ofadjusting screws-81 mounted in a fork 82 fast on shaft 67. By this mechanism the working edges of the two scraper blades 69, '68 are lightly held in trailing engagement with the peripheries of their respective rollers, with capacity of relative adjustment through screws 81. Fast on link 45 is a collar 83 that, in the normal high position of the link 45, lies above and in contact with an arm 84 fast on the scraper shaft 67. When link 45 is depressed, the two shafts 67 and 66 are rocked by the arm 84 and their jointed connection in directions to simultaneously swing the working edges of the scraper blades away from their respective rollers against the pull of spring 75. The free end of arm 84 is connected by a link 85 to the plunger of a dash pot 86 attached to the inner side of the frame member 11 the plunger of the dash pot moving freely downward but having a retarded upward movement, so as to effect the slow and gradual return of the scraper blades to working position under the pull of spring 7 5. i v

A similar mechanism is employed to effect the actuating and control of the scraper blades 7 2 and 73, including an arm 74 fast on shaft 71, a pull spring 75, and a jointed connection between the shafts 70 and 71 similar to that above described and shown in Fig. 4, but located inside the frame member 11. An arm 84 fast on shaft 7 is connected by a link 85. to the plunger of a dash pot 86 attached to the inner side of the frame member 11; the plunger of this dash pot moving freely upward but having a retarded downward movement to effect the slow and gradual return of the scraper blades72 and 73 to working posi- ..tion under the pull of spring 7 5. Fast on link 51 is a collar 83 that, in the normal low position of the link 51, lies beneath and in contact with the arm 84', so that, when link 51 is raised, the two shafts 7 0 and 71 are rocked by the arm 84' and their jointed connection in directions to simultaneously swing the workmg edges of the scraper blades away from their respective rollers.

Fig. 3 shows the normal positions of the I rocking beam 44, the links 45 and 51 and the parts operated by the latter when the machine is in working position. The rocking of the shaft 43 to separate the pattern and printing rollers and retract the scraper blades from said rollers is preferably eflected by a pedal mechanism, as follows.

Mounted on a pivot stud 87 in the frame ,member 11 is a two-arm pedal lever 88 formed withpedals 89 and 90 at the ends thereof. Attached to the pedal lever 88 over the pivot stud 87 is an upwardly extending cam plate 91 formed with a-cam slot 92, which is engaged by a roller 93 (Fig, 1) on a pin 94 mounted in the free end of an arm 95 fast on the rock shaft 43. A. pull spring 96 anchored at 97 to the base plate 10 and at its other end connected to a pin 98 in the top of the cam plate 91 is adapted to oscillate across the pivot 87 of the foot lever 88 and thus hold the latter in either extreme of its rocking movement. Depression of the pedal 89, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3,-raises the link and lowers the link 51, placing the rollers and scrapers in the Working position shown in Fig. 1. Depression of the pedal 90, through the cam 92, cam follower 93, arm 95 and rock shaft 43 lowers the link 45, raises the link 51, separates the pattern and printing rollers and retracts the scrapers from engagement with their respective rollers.

.As herein shown, power is applied to the drive shaft 18 through a worm gear 100 (Fig. 2) fast thereon driven by worm 101 on the shaft of an electric motor 102 mounted on a bracket 103 on the rear of the frame plate 12.

Also mounted on said frame plate beneath the motor are a starting controller conventionally indicated at 104 and a switch box conventionally indicated at 105. Preferably the starting and stopping switch in the switch box 105 is connected to the rock shaft 43 so that when the latter is rocked. by the pedal the machine in operation. The rod, bar or sheet of metal to be decorated is then passed by the operative between the printing rollers 14 and 16 from right to lift viewing Fig. 1 at a linear speed substantially equal to the peripheral speed of thetwo rollers, the latter turning in the direction indicated by the arrows. The spacing of the printing rollers forany given job is slightly less than the thickness of the work, so that the gelatinous peripheries of the rollers are impressed on the surfaces of the work and transfer the ink to the latter in the grain or other design received from the pattern rollers. When the job is done, the operative depresses pedal 90, which opens the motor switch and simultaneously'shifts the pattern rollers and the scrapers out of contact with the printing rollers.

Since, as before stated, in.order to transfer a perfect impression of the design from the pattern rollers to the printing rollers through rolling surface contact, the speed of the printing rollers must be slightly less than it would be if the pattern and printing rollers operated in rolling line contact, I secure this result by giving to the gears 29 and 30 a avoids sliding or rubbing contact of the 00-.

operating peripheries of the rollers, while permittmg the pattern rollers to operate. in

depressing surface contact with the printing rollers so as to efiiciently transfer the ink in the selected pattern or design to the latter.

I have herein shown and described, for purposes of illustration, one simple and practical embodiment of the principle of the invention. but manifestly the details ofstructure and arrangement may be widely varied from those shown without involving any departure from the mechanical principles involved or sacrificing any of the utilities and advantages of the invention. Hence, I do not limit the in ventionvto the particular embodiment illustrated, but reserve all such variations, modifications and mechanical equivalents as fall within the spirit and purview of the claims.

I claim 1. In a metal printing machine, the combination of a printing roller formed with a soft peripheral surface, apattern roller having its peripheral surface in depressing rolling contact With the periphery of said printing roller, an inking roller co-operating with said pattern roller, a pair of scrapers respectively engaging the peripheries of said printing and pattern rollers, and means for simultaneously separating said printing and pattern rollers and moving said scrapers out of contact with their respective rollers when the machine is idle.

2. In a metal printing machine, the combination of a frame, a printing roller journaled in said frame, a yoke pivoted in said frame, a shaft journaled in and between the arms of said yoke, a pattern roller fast on said shaft with its periphery in rolling contact with said printing roller, means for driving both said'rollers, and means for swinging said yoke whereby to shift said pattern roller into and out of contact with said printing roller.

3. In a metal printing machine, the combination of a frame, a pair of peripherally spaced printing rollers between which the work is adapted to be passed ournaled in said frame, a pair of yokes pivoted in said frame. shafts journaled inand between the arms of said yokes respectively, pattern rollers fast on said shafts with their peripheries in rolling contact with said printing rollers, means for driving said printing and pattern rollers,

and means for simultaneously swinging said yokes in the same direction relatively to said printing rollers whereby to shift said pattern rollers into and out of contact with said printing rollers.

4. A specific embodiment of claim 3, Wherein the means for swinging said yokes includes a rock shaft j ournaled in the frame, a rocking beam fast on said rock shaft, levers pivoted on said frame and connected to said yokes, and

links connecting said levers to the ends of said rocking beam.

5. A specific embodiment of claim 3, Wherein the means for swinging said yokes comprises a rock shaft journaled in the frame, a rocking beam fast on said rock shaft, levers pivoted on said frame and connected to said yokes, links connecting said levers to the ends of said rocking beam, a pedal lever pivoted on said frame, actuatingconnections from said pedal lever to said rock shaft, and a spring operative to hold said pedal lever in either set co-operating with said pattern roller, a pair of scraper shafts journaled in said frame,

connected to one of said'shafts for swinging said scraper blades into contact with their respective rollers, an arm on one of said shafts, and means acting on said arm and through said transmission mechanism to simultaneously retract both of said scraper blades from said rollers.

7. In a metal printing machine, the combination of a frame, pattern and printing rollers j ournaled in said frame with their peripheries in rolling contact, an inking roller cooperating with said pattern roller, an electric motor and transmission mechanism therefrom to said rollers, a switch controlling the motor circuit, means for moving one of said rollers bodily into and out of contact with the other, and means connected to said rollermoving means operative to close said switch when said rollers are brought into contact and to open said switch when said rollers are separated.

JOHN F. GAIL. 

